Approximately 1 in 6 children ages 6 to 17 in the United States are impacted by a mental health disorder each year. Mental health conditions can take a significant toll on children and families. Vulnerable populations, in particular, often experience a disproportionately high burden from mental health challenges and encounter barriers to accessing treatment.
As the single largest payer for mental health services, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) facilitate access to high-quality mental health services for children and adolescents, including mental health screenings, treatments, and peer support programs. Mental health conditions are prevalent among children who rely on Medicaid for coverage, with 30 percent of children with public coverage reporting in 2021 that they manage a mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral health challenge.
Medicaid is an essential source of quality health coverage for children managing mental health conditions, and research shows that Medicaid’s behavioral health treatment rates for adolescents are comparable to that of private coverage. Further, Medicaid expansion is associated with significant increases in coverage rates and improved access to care and medications for mental health conditions.
The National Federation of Families (NFF), a Modern Medicaid Alliance partner, serves as the national voice for families whose children experience mental health and/or substance use challenges during their lifetime. Through partnerships among families, professionals, and policymakers at the local, state, and national level, NFF advocates for policies, legislation, and service systems that enhance mental health and substance use support for families and their children.
NFF and the Role of Family Peer Specialists in Supporting Mental Health
Family peer support specialists are parents or caregivers with lived experience who are trained to assist children and families navigating similar challenges. Their guidance can facilitate individualized recovery plans, alleviate stress among caregivers, reduce health care costs, and help families understand and manage their children’s mental health needs.
Certified Family Peer Specialists ™ (CFPS) offer critical services for families of children experiencing health challenges, particularly mental health and substance use conditions. They provide the only national certification program that trains individuals to become Family Peer Specialists. Medicaid provides these services for those who need them, with over half of Medicaid peer support programs focusing on youth peer support.
NFF has a national network of family peer specialists who support families as they access mental health information and treatment. NFF’s National Family Support Technical Assistance Center (NFSTAC) offers:
- Free monthly webinars, trainings, and resources for parents and the family peer support workforce.
- A network of national affiliates and partners who provide family peer and other support services.
- Resources on various mental health and substance use topics for youth and young adults, caregivers, family peer specialists, and family-run organizations.
NFF’s commitment to improving family peer support and developing accessible resources shows how Modern Medicaid Alliance partners are ensuring that Medicaid families with children facing mental health or substance abuse challenges can access the essential health care services and supports they need.
For more information on how NFF empowers children and families to navigate mental health, check out our partner roundup featuring NFF’s recent Acceptance Campaign.